Information Literacy

WASSAIL (Wikipedia page)

WASSAIL is a database-driven, web-based application employing PHP, MySQL, and Javascript/AJAX technologies. It was created to manage question and response data from the Augustana Library's library instruction sessions, pre- and post-tests from credit-bearing information literacy (IL) courses, and user surveys. It has now expanded beyond its original function and is being used to manage question and response data from a variety of settings. Its most powerful feature is the ability to generate sophisticated customized reports.

WASSAIL enables users to:

• Track assessment data by course, by instructor and by academic year
• Collect and manage institution-specific questions (including Likert-style, open-ended, subjective or qualitative questions, or pre-defined multiple-choice-style  questions)
• Group the questions into institution-specific templates
• Apply the templates to individual courses to gather data through surveys administered on paper or via the Web
• Generate queries/reports on the resulting data including:
  • Statistical analysis for each question (exempting qualitative)
  • Graphical display of statistical analysis for each question (exempting qualitative)
  • Listing of responses by question for open-ended, subjective or qualitative questions 
• Pre-/post-test data analysis with the Gains Analysis function (compares the pre-test and post-test data sets to display the net learning by students)
• Categorize like questions using structured controlled vocabulary (such as traditional Library of Congress Subject Headings) and also user-defined folksonomic tags (a feature enjoyed by Web 2.0 advocates for its flexibility).
• Align questions with the standards and outcomes as outlined in the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Information Literacy Standards.  

New features in WASSAIL 3

• Create custom URLs for web-based questionnaires
• Use enhanced formatting options
• Enable email alerts to help manage response submissions
• Receive uploaded documents through web-based questionnaires
• Now properly runs in a subdirectory
• When printing, the footer now appears at the bottom of the last printed page
• Gains Analysis parameter sets now display ID numbers for templates and courses
• Online questionnaires / web forms can now be edited after being generated. Only accounts with the "Write Unconditionally" have this ability.
• Responses to qualitative questions now have ids associated with answers
• Modified styling of reports so quantitative and qualitative reports now look more similar

Download WASSAIL

Things to Consider

If you are thinking of using WASSAIL, here are some things to consider:

• Decide what user groups you want to assess/survey.
• Discuss WASSAIL with faculty and colleagues who may want to participate.
• Plan the logistics of administering the test, whether in web or paper  format.
• Determine how you will survey students.
• Obtain ethics approval from your institution to ensure you have the right to  use data collected in WASSAIL for research purposes.

Tutorials for WASSAIL 3

WASSAIL 3 tutorials are available in Flash, QuickTime, and Windows Media below.

Take a Test Drive

If you would like to give WASSAIL a test drive, you may do so by going to the WASSAIL log-in page and using:

username: guest password: tryWASSAIL

Please note that any data you enter will not necessarily be there later. This is intended simply to give you a first-hand sense of what WASSAIL is about.

Augustana Library's Commitment to WASSAIL

The Augustana Library is highly committed to the successful development and implementation of WASSAIL in many ways at Augustana, at the broader University of Alberta, and beyond. WASSAIL is an initiative that  has been supported in its development by the Augustana Campus, the University of Alberta Library, and through grant funding from the University of Alberta and the Canadian Library Association. Securing funding as it becomes available for WASSAIL support and development is an ongoing and high priority. The Augustana Library is sharing WASSAIL for the enhancement of student learning assessment and scholarship for individuals, institutions, and multi-institutional collaborations.

Recognition & Awards

WASSAIL and its developers have been honoured with multiple awards. To read more, visit our Recognition page.

Contact Information

Please e-mail us about WASSAIL at: wassail@ualberta.ca, or contact:

Nancy Goebel, Head, Faculty Engagement (Augustana)
Augustana Campus, University of Alberta
4901 46 Ave Camrose, AB, Canada T4V 2R3
phone: 780.679.1189 fax: 780.679.1597
email: nancy.goebel@ualberta.ca